Manufacture of sulphuric acid



(No ModgL) T. D. DOTTERER.

MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURIG AUID.

N0.'270.763. Patented Jan. 16,1888.

INVBNTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS, ml mhn n kur. Washillgion. D. c.

I UNITED 5 STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

' THOMAS D. DOTTERER, on CHARLESTON, son'ru' CAROLINA.

MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURIC ACID.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 270,763, dated Januarylti, H83. Application filed September 12, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS D. DOTTERER, ofCharleston, in-the county of Charleston and State of South Carolina,have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Manufacture ofSulphuric Acid, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

Heretofore in makin g sulphuric acid a large amount of thesulphuric-acid gas, which is generated in the acid-chambers, has beenpermitted to pass out into the atmosphere, generally by a tower such asthat of Glover or Guy Lussac, and at a considerable elevation. This gasis blown off by the wind, and often has a very injurious effect uponvarious crops and vegetation generally. Under such provision, too, forthe escape of the gas it has been very difficult to regulate the draftof the sulphur-burnin g furnaces. These objections I overcome bystopping off the gases on top of the chamber or tower into which theyescape from the acidchambers and drawing or forcing them down into acondenser or receiver, into which water is admitted, and from thencethrough a vapor bath supplied by steam and water jets, the whole givinga uniform pressure and draft, and the apparatus constituting what Iterm-a gas inspirator and condenser, the office of which is to regulatethe draft-0f the acid-chamber and to condense the fumes at or near thesurface of the ground, thereby placing them entirely under the controlof the party having charge of the acid-chambers, or acid-manager, as heis sometimes called.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of thisspecification,

' in which the figure represents a sectional elevation of an apparatusembodying my invention.

A in the drawing indicates the tower or chamber,into which thesulphurous gases from the acid-chambers are admitted below by one ormore pipes, 1). Instead of allowing said gases-a free escape into theatmosphere by an elevated exit-pipe. from the top of said chamber, asheretofore has been the case, I siphon or draw the same downward fromthe upper portion of the chamber A by a pipe, 0, and steam-jet pipe, (1,into a'coudenser, B. This condenser, which should be of considerablefirst floor, 0,0f the buildingimmediately above the ground-floor D, andis intended to be kept about three-fourths, more or less, full of water,which is introduced to it in a fine spray by a spray pipe or device, 6.The pipe 0, by which the gas is conveyed into the condenser, projectsdown below the surface of the water therejet pipe g, or pipes g and d,controls the speed of the gases and draft of the acid-chambers.

The vapor bath E, into which thegases are drawn or forced by the pipe fand steam-jet pipe g, may have some little water settle in its bottom,but is generally charged with steam and gas, which pass ofi' by an0utlet=pipe, i.

This pipe t, which is covered by a bonnet, k, is arranged to project upwithin a hollow mound, l, of coke or other suitable material that willhold moisture, and upon which a water-spray, by a spray-pipe ordistributer m, is'caused to play, the waterpercolating through themound, and as it comes in contact with the hot gases, creating'afog ormist about the mound. I preferably build up the mound of coke over theexit-hole upon a frame-work of iron, wood, or

' other material, so that the vapor issuing from pipe h may be met witha sprayof water. In this way or by these means the gases are con-'densed, purified, and deprived of most of all of their noxiousproperties, and the draftof the sulphur-burning furnaces is controlled.

The steam-jet pipes d g, as also the gas suction or draft pipes of, andthe water-spraying pipes or devices, may each or any of them be providedwith suitable regulating cocks or valves.

Having thus fully described myinvention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- I 1. In apparatus for manufacturing sulphuricacid, the combination, with the tower or chamlength, is represented asarranged upon the acid-ehambers, of the downdraft or suction her A,through which the gases pass from the pipe 0 and steam-jet pipe d, thecondenser E, the spray pipe or device 0, the lower draft or suction pipef, the steam-jet pipe g, and the vapor bath or receiver E, essentiallyas described.

2. 1n apparatusfor manufacturing sulphuric acid, the bath E, into whichthe escaping gases are admitted conjointly with steam, and coveredoutlet i, in combination with the hollow mound of coke or othermoisture-holding substance through which the escaping gases are free topercolate, and the water-spraying device m, substantially as specified.

3. In apparatus for manufacturing sulphuric acid, the combination, withthe tower or chamher A, of the downdraft gas-pipe 0, the steamjet piped, the condenser B, provided with a water-sprayin g device, thevapor-bath E, with its outlet 'i, the downdraft pipe f, with itssteam-jet pipe 9, the damper h, the hollow mound l, and the sprayingdevice m, essentially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

THOMAS I). DOTTERER.

Witnesses:

THAD S. EASON, S. G. HORSEY.

